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The Pop Life

By Stephen Holden

Published: January 12, 1994

The twin-pronged assaults of grunge and hip-hop may have made significant commercial inroads in the pop marketplace in 1993, but in the final tally of the year's best-selling records, adult contemporary music more than held its own.

In Billboard's annual listing of the year's best-selling albums, the soundtrack for "The Bodyguard" ranked first, followed by the soprano saxophonist Kenny G's soothing pop-jazz record, "Breathless." "The Bodyguard," which featured Whitney Houston's megahit "I Will Always Love You," sold more than 10 million copies in the United States, twice as many as "Breathless." Both albums were released by Arista, which sold more records in 1993 than any other label, according to the magazine.

Arista's success, which was also spurred by the multi-million-record sales of two country acts -- Brooks and Dunn, and Alan Jackson -- was all the more spectacular considering that last year the label placed 13th in Billboard's annual listing.

Country music continued its steady gain in percentage of the pop marketplace. Among the year's 15 best-selling artists, one-third -- Garth Brooks (No. 1), Billy Ray Cyrus, Reba Mc Entire, Brooks and Dunn, and George Strait -- were country acts. The remaining 10 represented a cross-section of pop, rock, soul and hip-hop.

It was the second year in a row that Mr. Brooks finished first in the list of best-selling artists. His achievement was all the more stunning in that his records are so infrequently heard on urban radio stations. Ms. Houston would probably have placed first on the list but for the fact that "The Bodyguard," which included music by several other artists, was a soundtrack rather than a Whitney Houston album.

Following is a list of the year's best-selling artists, albums and singles as reported by Billboard. Two albums on the list, Mr. Cyrus's "Some Gave All" and Pearl Jam's "Ten," made the top 15 two years running, an indication of the extended commercial life span of a hit album once it catches on. Pearl Jam, the only act with two albums in the top 15, is currently the most popular rock band in the country. Sales of its two albums are approaching the 10 million mark.

These are the top artists (combined albums and singles):

1. Garth Brooks

2. Kenny G

3. Pearl Jam

4. Eric Clapton

5. Billy Ray Cyrus

6. Janet Jackson

7. Michael Bolton

8. Dr. Dre

9. Spin Doctors

10. Reba McEntire

11.Brooks and Dunn

12. George Strait

13. U2

14. SWV

15. Sade These are the top albums (and their labels):

1. "The Bodyguard" soundtrack (Arista)

2. "Breathless," by Kenny G (Arista)

3. Unplugged, Eric Clapton (Duck/ Reprise)

4. "Janet," by Janet Jackson (Virgin)

5. "Some Gave All," by Billy Ray Cyrus (Mercury)

6. "The Chronic," by Dr. Dre (Death Row/Interscope)

7. "Pocket Full of Kryptonite," by the Spin Doctors (Epic)

8. "Ten," by Pearl Jam (Epic)

9. "The Chase," by Garth Brooks (Liberty)

10. "Core," by the Stone Temple Pilots (Atlantic)

11. "Timeless (The Classics)," by Michael Bolton (Columbia)

12. "Love Deluxe," by Sade (Epic)

13. "Pure Country" soundtrack, by George Strait (MCA)

14. "Get a Grip," by Aerosmith (Geffen)

15. "Vs.," by Pearl Jam (Epic) These are the top singles:

1. "I Will Always Love You," byWhitney Houston (Arista)

2. "Whoomp! (There It Is)," by Tag Team (Life)

3. "Can't Help Falling in Love," by UB40 (Virgin)

4. "That's the Way Love Goes," by Janet Jackson (Virgin)

5. "Freak Me," by Silk (Keia)

6. "Weak," by SWV (RCA)

7. "If I Ever Fall in Love," by Shai (Gasoline Alley)

8. "Dreamlover," by Mariah Carey (Columbia)

9. "Rump Shaker," by Wrecks-N-Effect (MCA)

10. "Informer," by Snow (East/ West)

11. "Nuthin' But a G Thang," by Dr. Dre (Death Row)

12. "In the Still of the Night," by Boyz II Men (Motown)

13. "Don't Walk Away," by Jade (Giant)

14. "Knockin' Da Boots," by H-Town (Luke)

15. "Lately," by Jodeci (Uptown)

Photo: Garth Brooks, the top-selling recording artist for a second year. (Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times)